North Tama junior outside hitter Lily Sell delivers a kill against the West Monona Spartans, Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Charles City. Sell recorded a match-high 21 kills during the Class 1A Region 6 final. PHOTOS BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

WEBSTER CITY – The No. 5 North Tama Redhawks and the No. 13 West Monona Spartans battled in what proved to be a barnburner of a four-set match on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Webster City High School for the Class 1A Region 6 championship. In the end, the Spartans upset the Redhawks, 3-1, earning their first state berth and denying North Tama its seventh.

The play from both teams Wednesday evening throughout the four intense sets mimicked a state tournament match in most every way, including multiple marathon rallies. In the first set, West Monona got out to a quick 3-0 lead and held it until the Redhawks took over at 6-5. The Spartans retook the lead at 11-10 and never fell behind again. At match point, North Tama scored four times in succession before West Monona secured the 25-21 win.

North Tama won the second set after amassing an early 10-1 lead, much of that due to junior Lily Sell’s offensive dominance. West Monona steadily fought back, eventually overcoming the Redhawks at 23-22. The final moments of the set ran hot with North Tama tying it up four separate times before overtaking the Spartans for the win, 28-26, on an ace by junior setter Isabelle Gropper.

The third set turned the second set on its head as the Spartans built a massive early 8-0 lead before North Tama clawed its way back, coming within one point of West Monona at 15-14 and then tying the score six separate times, including at 25-25. The Spartans won the third set 27-25.

The Redhawks led West Monona early in the final set but then trailed by two to four points for much of the middle. With the match, regional title and a state berth on the line, the Spartans scored five unanswered points against the Redhawks, winning 25-15 on an unreturned serve.

North Tama sophomore outside hitter Alaney Sienknecht.

North Tama racked up 53 kills across the four sets to West Monona’s 55. Sell powered the Redhawks offense with a match-high 21 kills, while her teammate Alaney Sienknecht tallied 20. Kahlia Even had four kills for the Redhawks, Gropper and Kaeler Ewoldt both had three, and Jessica Morrison had two. Gropper recorded a match-high 39 assists; Grace Dvorak had six and Harper Rausch two.

On defense, the two teams also kept pace with one another with North Tama recording 69 digs to West Monona’s 67. Gropper and Ewoldt led the Redhawks with 16 and 15 digs, respectively. Dvorak and Sienknecht both had 10 digs apiece. The Spartans dominated at the net, successfully blocking the Redhawks 25 times. North Tama’s five blocks were recorded by Morrison (3), Ewoldt (1) and Sienknecht (1).

At the service line, North Tama was led by Rausch, who went 16-for-16 with two aces. Sienknecht was 14-for-14 and also had a pair of aces. Gropper was 21-of-21 with an ace. Dvorak was 20-for-20 and one ace.

North Tama (29-14) has qualified for the state tournament six times, including 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025, according to Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union records. The Redhawks have made it as far as the Class 1A state semifinals.

Senior libero Grace Dvorak.

Senior defensive specialist Harper Rausch.

Junior setter Isabelle Gropper.

From left, Lily Sell, Kahlia Even, Grace Dvorak, Alaney Sienknecht, and Kaeler Ewoldt.